USC's Woolridge embraces his legacy

LOS ANGELES – Renaldo Woolridge wanted his jersey number to represent his father, not his playing time.

Woolridge wears "zero" for USC's basketball team, just as his father, Orlando Woolridge, did during an NBA career that spanned more than a decade, including two years with the Lakers. Orlando Woolridge died last year, and his son's attempt to complete the family's basketball legacy has been noble but complicated.

More than halfway into his first and only season at USC (which plays at UCLA Wednesday night), Woolridge has rarely left the bench. In 21 games, he has played a total of 60 minutes and scored 15 points as a versatile 6-foot-9 but streaky forward.

"It's tough," Woolridge said recently. "Before every game this season, I look in the mirror and I see my frame and I see the No. 0 and I see him. I see what I used to watch. That's the hardest part, just not being able to go out and play for him."

Things are possibly looking up. Against Arizona last Saturday, Woolridge had season-highs of 13 minutes and 8 points, a rare bright spot in what has been a difficult season.

But this isn't about just another frustrated benchwarmer. Renaldo doesn't need basketball anymore. He's an exceedingly bright young man with a college degree already in hand, with a budding career in the music industry. He has already played four years of top-level college ball. This is about bigger things.

It's about grieving the loss of a parent. It's about finally, completely embracing a famous surname. It's about coming home, to the city where he starred in high school, to play for family and friends.

"There is a part of it that is slight embarrassment for him, that he has come home and hasn't been able to play," Woolridge's older brother, Zach, said, "but we like the fact that we can watch him play, and that if something is wrong, we can be there for him. On that end of things, it has worked out for the best."

As Renaldo remembers it, one of the final conversations he had with his father, before Orlando died of a heart condition last May 31, centered around Ronaldo's decision to transfer from Tennessee to USC.

Renaldo grew up with plenty of expectations. His father played 13 NBA seasons as a 6-9 forward, a one-time teammate both of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, and he averaged 16 points per game.

Orlando and Patricia Woolridge separated in 1996, six years after Renaldo was born, and even though his father was rarely an everyday presence, Orlando had a big impact.

Orlando's NBA status allowed Renaldo to be popular in school, but also led to inevitable comparisons, which weren't kind when Renaldo was a scrawny 6-foot freshman at Harvard-Westlake High. Renaldo eventually grew and developed into a top prospect and chose Tennessee (over USC) out of high school.

In four seasons (one cut short by injury), he appeared in 93 games, started 20 and averaged 3.2 points. He never really shook the label of "Orlando's son."

"I've always felt like that," Woolridge said. "But this year, with him passing, instead of me looking at it as a burden, I tried to embrace it. I decided to wear No. 0 at USC in his honor and I decided I wouldn't feel any pressure. I feel honored to be able to represent him and carry on that legacy."

"I'm just trying to be positive. It's been really tough not playing. It brings back memories of this time last year. I was starting in the SEC, starting at center for Tennessee, and my dad came to Knoxville and was working with me on post moves."

Having completed his sociology degree, Woolridge petitioned the NCAA for an extra season, then received a hardship waiver that allowed him to join USC this season. Things haven't quite worked out as planned.

"The thing that really frustrates me is that I feel like I haven't been given an opportunity," Woolridge said. "I wanted to come back and show my face, because this is where I made a name for myself, coming out of high school and being a top recruit. I wanted to come back for my last year and live up to that role."

Woolridge still has a supporter in USC interim coach Bob Cantu, who took over for the fired Kevin O'Neill on Jan. 14. Cantu said he would like to see Woolridge's practice habits improve, but indicated that Woolridge, at 6-9, is a bit of a tweener who has yet to find a consistent role in USC's rotation.

"He's done nothing wrong. He really hasn't," Cantu said. "He's a great kid. He's working hard. He just hasn't got the minutes he would have liked. He's just got to stay hungry and stay ready."

Of course, he's also dealing with grief. Basketball aside, he's a 22-year-old college kid dealing with the premature loss of a parent. Zach, who works downtown, and Patricia, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, are nearby to lift Renaldo's spirits when needed.

"If he does have a bad day, he can just say, 'Hey, Zach, can you come by?'" Zach Woolridge said, "and we can just sit in the car or go grab a burger and go into detail about how he feels."

There are plenty of good things going on in Woolridge's life. He's going for a master's degree in social work and he's a budding hip-hop performer and producer who already has started his own record label.

Under the name "SB Babyy," Woolridge released, "Fight On," which has become an anthem for USC athletics. Renaldo said his father supported his musical endeavors, something else he wishes they could share now.

"That's been the tough part," Woolridge said. "Knowing that I'll have a Senior Night this year, and he won't be there. Then, whatever happens with my professional basketball career, he won't be at a game. Whatever big concert I do in the future, he won't be there. I know he's watching, spiritually, but that's just the toughest part, knowing that he can't be there personally."